Railroad-switch stand



(Nonodl.) Y f l l T. E. CALVBRT.

RAILROAD SWITCH STAND. l No. 568,938. Patented otg; 1896.l

UNITED STATES ,PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS E, OALVERT, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

RAI LROAD-SWlTCH STAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,938, dated October 6, 1896.

Application iiled December 20, 1895. Serial No. 572,751. (No model,

T o all, 'whom t may (fo/werft: v

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. CALVERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lincoln, in the county of Lancaster and State of Nebraska, have invented Improvements in Railroad-Switch Stands, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to interlocking switch-stands.

One object of the invention is to provide a switch which shall be rigid and positive when being thrown by hand and automatic when being thrown by a train.

A further object is to so construct the locking mechanism that the ke37 cannot be withdrawn from the lock until the switch has been returned to its normal position. It is of course to be understood that the locking mechanism may be so arranged that either the main line or the siding may be considered the normal position.

The switch-stand is simple in construction, effective in operation, contains but relatively few parts, and is therefore better adapted for general use than those heretofore known.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of so much of the stand as is necessary to properly illu strate my invention; Fig. 2, avertical sectional view on the line l l of Fig. 3; Fig. 3, a horizontal sectional view on the line 2 2, Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a top plan view of the table; Figs. 6 and 7, sectional views showing the relation of the lock to the operating-handle; Fig. S, a side view of la portion of the table, showing the relation of the handle thereto when in a certain position hereinafter referred to; Fig. 9, a perspective view of the bolt; Fig. 10, a perspective view of the lever, and Fig. ll a perspective view showing certain details of construction. i

My invention consists, rst, in improved method of fastening vertical shaft to lever, admitting the changing of any stand from right to left, or vice versa, and avoiding use of key or screw bolts liable to get loose and fall off 5 second, improved automatic arrangement for throwing switch by train; third, im, proved arrangement for making stand automatic when thrownY by train,-and rigid when thrown by hand; fourth, improved arrange- 'with two openings c c.

mentfor holding key in lock until switchlever is turned and locked for main line or allowing key to be withdrawn when lever is locked for either side or main track, as desired; fifth, improved arrangement for maiutaining switch-lever parallel with main line when switch is closed for main line and allowing target to indicate line for which point-s stand; sixth, improved arrangement for holding lock in stand.

A denotes the frame of the stand, and B the usual vertical shaft or rod journaled therein.

A table C is secured upon the upper end of the stand or frame A, said table being shown iu detail in Fig. 5. A lever D is mounted upon the table, its open head'encircling the rod B and receiving a pinion-shaped piece E. The rod is provided with a transverse opening a and the lever D is provided with a similar opening o, while the piece E is provided When the parts are assembled, one of the openings c or c is brought into alinement with the openings a and b, and when the parts occupy such position a pin or bolt is inserted, locking parts B and E together, after which the piece E is returned to position and the hole or opening b thrown out of-.alinement with the pin.

It will be noticed upon reference to Fig. 3 that the openings c c stand at right angles to each other, sothat the shaft may be turned ninety degrees relatively to the piece E and the switch changed from right to left, or vice versa. This construction has the advantage of doing away with all nuts and screws,which are liable to work loose and render the switch defective. It also admits of one class of stands being used for either right or left hand switches.

In the ,outer end of the lever D, Ipivot a handle or arm F, whilel within the lever I 'mount a bolt G. ySaid bolt is provided at one IOO "That, part ofthe piece'E which comes into wings f f', the recesses thus formed by said "contact with the head H is provided with two v 2 masas wings being such that the head tits therein, as shown in Fig. 3.

The head of handle F is provided with two radial openings or recesses J and K, which when the arm is thrown around into certain positions permits the toe or projection e to enter.

The recess J is cut away on one side, forming an opening J', designed to receive the head oi" a bolt L of a lock M. This lock M is mounted in the side of the lever D, an opening being formed in one side thereof. A shoulder N is formed in the wall of the lever to one side of the opening and one edge of the lock rests against it, the spring I bearing against the opposite end securely holding the lock in its proper position. This const-ruction does away with the necessity of all screws and the like.

By the construction above set forth the stand may be thrown automatically and the switch-points returned to their original position, thereby keeping the points closed for one line or the other at all times. The spring pressing against the head of bolt Gr holds said head firmly in one of the recesses in piece E. Then the rod B is turned by train through switch connections, the piece E turning will force the bolt back against the spring. At yfirst projections d and cl2 press against the eXtreme ends of wings f and f' and cause the pinion toturn hard. or f passes from the projection d' or (Z2 (according to the direction of rotation of the part E) it tnrnseasilyuntil end of wing f or f encounters projection d, when it is held until considerable power is applied. It then jumps over the projection d and passes the dead-center with such force that rod B is instantlyturned as far as the points of the switch will permit it to go. By this construction all dead-centers are avoided and all probability of switch-points not being thrown up against the stock-rail done away with; or if a train, after running part way through the switch and throwing it over only partially, backs out, the parts will be forced back to their original position, thus insuring switchpoints always being set close up for either main or side tracks.

The construction not only permits of the working parts heilig made heavy, a point of great importance, but is such that when the switch is thrown automatically it will start hard at the first part of the movement and then easily until very near the dead-center, when it will again resist the throw until considerable force is applied. Thus the stand will be thrown quickly as far as it can go if forced past the center point, or throw it back if the switch is not forced past the center.

The stand is automatic when thrown by train and rigid when thrown by hand.

Then the rod Bis turned by the train, the

piece E turns with it. This forces bolt G back against the spring, the toe c entering the re- As soon as wing f cess J in thehandle F, which is then locked and in the position indicated inFig-sl, 2, and

3. Then the handle is unlocked or in a horizontal position, as indicated at F' in dotted lines in Fig. l, the toe e bears against the solid head of the handle, holding the head of the bolt rigidly against the piece E until the switch is turned and the handle dropped down into one of the recesses of the table. Under this arrangement the movement of the switch by hand is not vdependent in any manner upon the spring. This permit-s the employment of a comparatively light spring, while under those constructions where the spring is brought into play when t-he switch is thrown by hand it has to be made heavy in order to insure proper working.

Figs. (5 and 7 illustrate the means employed for holding the key in the ylock until the switch has been returned to its normal position, either for the main or side track..

In Fig. G the bolt of the lock is shown in engagement with the recess J and a key O inserted in the lock M. When the bolt is withdrawn and the handle F turned up, `the bolt will bear against the head of the handle and the key cannot be'turned so as to be withdrawn. Until the switch is moved to sucha position that the handle may swing down vertically, the key will be securely held in the lock.

Then it is desired to have the key withdrawn only when the switch is. set for the main line, angle .P of the table C is filled, as shown in Figs. 5 and 8. A bolt Q may be screwed into the table or a lug may be cast solid thereon.

Under some conditions it is desirable to return the. lever D to itsoriginal position relative to the piece E after the switch has been thrown automatically by train. Then the switch has been thus thrown, the piece E is given a quarter of a revolution either to the right or left, as the-case may be. The lever must then be thrown back by h and to its Vproper relative position, and to accomplish this it is raised to the position indicated by F2 in dotted lines, Fig. l. The openingK is then in line .with the end of the bolt, and as the handle and lever are swung around the head of the bolt, riding out of the recess in the piece E, compresses the spring andthe toe e enters the recess K, when the lever and handle may be turned to the desired position. This has the advantage of always leaving the lever D in a position parallel to the main track when locked for said track. This differs from other automatic stands which throw the lever a quarter of a turn each time it is actuated automatically, in that under-prior constructions the lever remains in such p0- sition until again thrown automaticallyby A 568,938 l I s hurry or at night, as to the proper position of the switch, nor are they as liable to leave the switch locked for the wrong track.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In combination with the switch-stand, the signal-shaft provided with a transverse opening therethrough; a lever mounted upon the stand and also provided with an opening; a block, such as E, mounted upon the shaft and provided with a transverse opening; and a pin adapted to be passed through the opening in the lever and into the shaft and block to secure said latter parts together.

2. In combination with the switch-stand, the signal-shaft provided with a transverse openin g therethrough; a lever mounted upon the stand, and also provided with an opening; a block, such as E, mounted upon the shaft and provided with two openings substantially at right angles to one another; and a pin adapted to lock said latter parts together, substantially as and in the manner set forth.

3. In combination with the switch-stand; the signal-shaft; a block such as E, mounted upon said shaft; a spring-pressed bolt for engaging said block; and a handle or lever F provided with the openings J and K, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. ln combination with the switch-stand, the signal-shaft; a block, such as E, secured to said shaft; a table secured to the stand; a lever journaled upon the shaft and adapted to swing across the table; a spring-pressed bolt mounted Within said lever; and a handle pivoted in the outer end of the lever, said handle being provided with a recess in its head to permit the bolt to enter the same when the switch is being thrown automatically, and to permit the adjustment of the lever and bolt with relation to the shaft and locking-block.

5. A locking-lever for switch-stands, provided with a recessed opening in one face; a sliding bolt mounted within said lever; a lock mounted within said recessed opening; and a spring adapted to act on the bolt and also to hold said lock in place.

6. In combination with the switch-stand; a si gn al-shaft; a table; a lockingblock secured to the shaft; a lever j ournaled upon the shaft, and provided with a recessed opening in one lface; a lock seated in said opening; a sliding` bolt within the lever; a spring acting on said bolt and also serving to retain the lock in place; and a handle pivoted in the outer end of the lever, the head of which is provided with a recess for the reception of the end of l the sliding bolt when the switch is thrown automatically, and with a second recess for the lockbolt.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own invention I afiiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

T. E. CALVERT.

Vitnesses:

F. J. FINNEY, A. M. BAIRD. 

